Glamping in Tennessee’s Smokies at the Glamping Collective

By Anne Braly
Senior Writer

Glamping, a sought-after escape from the busyness of everyday life, has come a long way since glampgrounds first appeared as yurts with nothing more than a bed and canvas roof overhead – no indoor plumbing or electricity, just a bathhouse.

Now, it’s a sumptuous experience that rivals some of the best hotels. Western North Carolina’s Glamping Collective, located high up in the forests of the Smoky Mountains, is a prime example. It’s a resort glamping experience that takes advantage of its place on Earth, offering luxurious amenities and jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountains that, on some days, are shrouded with foggy skies, leaving little wonder as to how the ancient peaks got their name.

Cabin Or Dome?

There are two types of structures from which to choose: Canvas-covered geodesic domes with floor-to-ceiling windows stretching across the front, hot tubs and fire tables, and “glass” cabins with expansive glass walls that bring the outside in.

There are eight two-person domes with king beds in a central bedroom; four six-person domes with king beds in two private bedrooms; and nine two-person “glass” cabins.  All have kitchens with a double-burner cook plate; an under-counter refrigerator; and a large toaster oven that toasts, roasts, and bakes.

And the bathrooms? No community bathhouses here. The bathrooms have frameless showers, hairdryers, and luxury soaps and hair products. And get this: Heated toilet seats and floors that feel really good when you climb out of your very comfortable bed on a cold mountain morning.

“We want to accommodate all guests and budgets,” says Judith Puckett-Rinella, co-owner of the Glamping Collective. “We do offer a few glass cabins without hot tubs at a lower rate if hot tubs are not a priority.”

Contactless Check-In

Twenty-four hours before your stay, you’ll be contacted via text with codes to the entry gate as well as one to your dome or cabin.

It’s a short drive up the mountain on a dirt road, and you need to take care not to spin your tires creating ruts in the road. Your accommodation is easy to find with well-marked road signs pointing you in the right direction to your private paradise.

Pack up your cooler with the food you need for your stay – there’s no market on the property. Also, you can pick up some seafood from Sentelle’s Seafood in nearby Clyde or food from Ingle’s grocery store at the foot of the mountain. Don’t forget a bag of ice.

On the Trail

Hikers, mountain bikers, and outdoor lovers can escape the busyness of life on five miles of well-groomed trails that snake around the 171 acres. In addition, there are more than 10 miles of public trails in the adjoining Rough Creek Watershed.

Along the way are scenic outlooks, swings, benches and massive rocks for some bouldering. Also, bubbling brooks and streams make a restful waterscape. And if your timing is right, you can hike to the summit and experience a breathtaking sunrise or peaceful sunset at day’s end at an elevation of 4,334 feet.

Small-Town Charm

The Glamping Collective is in a strategic spot for foodies, history buffs and those simply out to enjoy strolling the streets of small towns in Western North Carolina.

You’re just outside Asheville, a food lover’s dream. But you don’t need to make the 30-minute drive with several small towns within easier reach: Canton, Waynesville and Clyde.

In Clyde

Blue Rooster Southern Grill puts a twist on Southern Classics, such as its Fancy Fried Green Tomatoes topped with feta cheese and a balsamic glaze, or shrimp and grits in lemon-garlic cream sauce.

Or make your way to Sherrill’s Pioneer Restaurant, a local diner that knows how to do breakfast. The plastic-coated menus are so Southern with advertisements from area businesses surrounding the offerings such as the Hungry Man’s Breakfast: Two eggs, two pancakes, two strips of bacon and two sausage links. You gotta be hungry for that one.

Then there’s Sentelle’s Seafood, a market that’s been part of Clyde since 1962. The inventory isn’t as large as Publix down the road, but if you want local products from the Carolinas, this is the place.

“If I won’t eat it, I won’t sell it,” says owner Debbie Milner.

In Canton

This is a town that many once bypassed due to its smell from the massive Pactiv Evergreen paper mill located across 200 acres in the middle of town. However, it closed in 2023 so the smell is gone, but so is Canton’s major employer.

It was the town’s lifeline, offering employment for thousands during its lifetime. Now the plant is shuttered, leaving more than 1,000 employees out of work and the town facing some challenges.

But with a can-do attitude, it appears to be moving forward. A buyer has purchased the old mill, so there’s hope that it will be demolished and developed.

Visitors can see the town’s history at the Canton Area Historical Museum. The collection is a walk through yesteryear with hundreds of items donated by its citizens.

Hungry? Once considered one of the best two-dollar hotels in the state and one of the first in North Carolina to have electricity, The Imperial Hotel no longer offers lodging, but it does house the lovely Southern Porch restaurant.

Its signature shrimp and grits is a house favorite, as is the Philly cheesesteak or the Canton Club served with a mass of hot, crispy fries or onion rings.

This is a place where the service is as sweet as the tea.

In Waynesville

With a population just north of 10,000, Waynesville is the largest of the three towns, but retains a wealth of small-town charm, something tourists have discovered. The city’s Main Street is a corridor lined with inviting shops and restaurants.

No trip to Waynesville’s downtown would be complete without a stop in Mast General Store with its old creaky wooden floors, an inventory of high-quality goods and the downstairs Candy Barrel to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Who’s Boojum?

There are several restaurants along Main Street Waynesville, but Boojum Brewery Taproom is the place to learn about Western North Carolina’s boogeyman, Boojum, said to hang out in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sip a Boojum-brewed beer alongside a mouthwatering Brueben, the brewpub’s version of a Reuben, only this place infuses its sauerkraut with Boojum beer which adds a new dynamic to pastrami and Swiss on rye.

Apples Galore

You’ll find the best apples in the state in Western North Carolina, and the area around the Glamping Collective has several orchards.

The closest, KT’s Orchard, is located at the bottom of the mountain as you start up the road to the Glamping Collective.

It’s a small orchard, but one where you can pick your own apples or they’ll do the picking for you. Barber’s Apple Orchard is tremendous and has an apple house filled with freshly picked apples and a bakery with all kinds of apple deliciousness, from pies to fritters, cakes, breads and more.

If you find yourself wanting to encounter the thrill of the outdoors, getting back to nature without the hassle of backpacking and sleeping on the cold, hard ground, check it out at www.theglampingcollective.com.